Great Start Montcalm

Parent Coalition

Minutes

Sidney Township Hall

April 28, 2009, 10:00-12:00

3019 Grow Road

Sidney, MI. 48885

Present: Jyll Mitchell, Mary Peterson, Lisa Lund, Brenda Greenhoe, Susan Sunden, Pinky McPhearson (speaker)

1.       Welcome!

2.       Announcements:

a.         Literacy/Book project. Sue presented information about the Public Enrichment Foundation. This foundation delivers 700 new books to 501(c) 3 non-profits for 2-3 years. Discussion centered upon possibly partnering with Ryan Whites church to begin this as a stepping stone toward the Dolly Parton Library project. Discussion about developing a subcommittee to begin work on this project. Phone number for information about Public Enrichment Foundation: 1-800-846-8876

b.       Crystal Elementary Clean up days. PC members invited to volunteer to help our community! Be at Crystal Elementary Friday, May 1, 2009, from 1:15 to 2pm. We will be helping clean up, plant flowers, weed gardens! Wear your polo shirts if you have them, if not, contact me to get one.

c.        Polo shirts distributed to members present.

d.       STAR POWER RALLY: PC members please remember to sign up to attend this day long rally for Early Childhood in Lansing on May 21, 2009. If you are new to the PC, please contact me for more information! We have chartered a bus to do pick ups in Edmore, Stanton and Ionia county (we are sharing the bus with Ionia). Howard City PC members can ride with Sue Sunden to the pick up site in Edmore. Sign up with Sue today!!

e.       New Mom information: Discussion regarding the disconnect between birth and school time for families. Discussion about PC involvement, getting information out to new moms and the best avenues to do so.

3.        Community Forum

a.        Pinky McPhearson spoke about the new Kids Count statistics that are out for Montcalm County.  She reported on Community Conditions, Social Emotional Data, Physical Health Data, Parenting Education Data, and Basic Needs, Security and safety facts.  Also reviewed were the current Montcalm County Agencies, Resources and Helps for families. See www.greatstartmontcalm.org for handouts from this event.

b.       A survey and questionnaire were completed by the PC members to help drive data and informational content back to the Great Start Collaborative. This information may help to inform and begin projects that support young families in Montcalm County. Please access: www.greatstartmontcalm.org for online surveys and information about the Community Forum events.

Next Meeting for Sidney Parent Coalition: May 19, 2009, 10:00am-12:00noon.  Sidney Township Hall, Sidney, MI.

Respectfully Submitted,

Susan Sunden, M.Ed., CTRS

Parent Liaison, Great Start Montcalm  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it   231-414-2143